What in the bloody hell?
 

Uhh if anyone could clear this up, I'd appreciate it. Perhaps some Sigma Chis or Phi Delts:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...507210718&rd=1

This says that President Grover Cleveland was a freemason, a Phi Delt and a Sigma Chi.

How in the hell is that possible? To be in active in two fraternities at once? It was under my undestanding that no one could do such a thing, especially in national orgs.

Unless he was an honorary member of one or the other, but I don't know if that is allowed either.

Anyone with any info on this, please post, I'd like to know.

Dual membership was actually very common back in the day. It has only been in the last 50 or so years that it is not allowed anymore. It is possible he is an honorary in one them though. I don't have time to do the research right this second. I suppose you could petition nationals to have him kicked out..;)

Your headquarters staff would probably be the ones to ask....

Re: What in the bloody hell?
 

Indeed! This is totally out of whack. :eek:

Grover Cleveland wore his Sigma Chi badge when he was sworn in as President. The badge may be viewed at the Fraternity's museum at the International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. Since both Sigma Chi and Phi Delta Theta were founded as general fraternities - and along with Beta Theta Pi make up the Miami Triad - I can not imagine President Cleveland having duel membership in the two. Also, Sigma Chi does not have honorary memberships so unless Phi Delta Theta does or did, I don't think that applies either.

With my curiosity peaked, I did some research.

Benjamin Harrison - who defeated Cleveland in 1888 and then Cleveland defeated in 1892 - was a member of Phi Delta Theta and Delta Chi. Originally, Delta Chi was founded as a Law Fraternity.

Since there is a historical tie between Cleveland and Harrison, and Sigma Chi & Delta Chi are similar sounding, my theory is that who ever issued this "document" got their facts mixed up. Or it is bogus. Or both.

Grover Cleveland was an honorary initiate into Sigma Chi - at the age of about 55. In fact, his honorary initiation was extremely controversial within Sigma Chi, and drew intense criticism from other fraternities as well.

As far as I know, Cleveland was not a Phi Delta Theta. In fact, Cleveland never attended an undergraduate university. He dropped out of school at age 16 when his father died, and some years later educated himself to the point where he was admitted to the NY bar.

I think this thing is a mistake - a very bizarre mistake.

wptw

Did not know (remember?) that Sigma Chi did honorary initiations much less that Grover Cleveland was one. I am fairly certain Sigma Chi no longer does this, however, I've been wrong before. :D

Cleveland was born in 1837, so when he was 55 it would be the year 1892 when he was initiated into Sigma Chi. He was sworn in for his second term in 1893. So I guess that part is correct. :)

Sigma Chi abandoned the practice of honorary initiations along with most other fraternities in the early 1880s. That's why it was so controversial in 1893. That, and the fact that the decision to make him a member was taken by a single chapter, without the required consent of the full fraternity legislature.

But I think honorary initiations are still permitted in Sigma Chi and other NIC fraternities on special occasions like the installation of a new chapter.

wptw

Those things aren't accurate.

This old auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...161411829&rd=1 listed Ralph Bunche as an Alpha, but he was not.

Thanks. Never too old to learn. ;)

I am fairly certain that Sigma Chi does not have honorary initiation now. Thus no honorary membership.

Most Sigma Chi web sites state the following or something similar.

"Completing pledgeship is the only way a man can become a member of Sigma Chi. There are no honorary memberships. The procedure for pledging Sigma Chi includes the rush period, receiving an invitation to pledge (a bid), and installation."

Sorry, I should clarify. The Sigma Chis at my school had 2 honorary initiates (a local clergyman and a local businessman) when their chapter was installed. But I think they were exploiting a bit of a loophole. This was a local fraternity that was petitioning for a Sigma Chi charter, so these 2 men were initiated into the local fraternity as honorary members, and when Sigma Chi granted the charter and came to initiate all the members of the local fraternity, these 2 were initiated with all the rest.

Yes, most bylaws prohibit honorary memberships. But I think you'll find these loopholes exist, because I have heard similar stories from other groups as well.

wptw

Well that certainly makes sense as to how that can happen.

I'd venture to guess that most fraternities "know" (wink, wink) that this is going on as well. ;)